Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And, when He came into the temple, the high-priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, saying, "By what authority art Thou doing these things? And who gave Thee this authority?"

²⁴ And Jesus, answering, said, "I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ The immersion of John??hence was it? from Heaven or from men?" And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From Heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why, then, did ye not believe him?' ²⁶ But, if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet." ²⁷ And, answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

²⁷ And they come again into Jerusalem. And, as He was walking about in the temple, the high priests and the scribes and the elders come to Him; ²⁸ and said to Him, "By what authority art Thou doing these things! Or who gave Thee this authority to do these things!"

²⁹ And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing; and answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ The immersion of John, was it from Heaven, or from men? Answer Me."

³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, ³² "If we say, 'From Heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did ye not believe him!' But, should we say, 'From men,'"??hey feared the people; for all held John to be a prophet indeed. ³³ And, answering, they say to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus saith to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

¹ And it came to pass, on one of the days, as He was teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming the Gospel, that there came upon Him the high priests and the scribes with the elders, ² and spake, saying to Him, "Tell us by what authority Thou art doing these things, or who gave Thee this authority?"

³ And, answering, He said to them, "I, too, will ask you a question; and tell Me: ⁴ The immersion of John, was it from Heaven, or of men?"

⁵ And they reasoned together with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From Heaven,' He will say, 'Why did ye not believe him?' ⁶ and if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷ And they answered that they knew not whence it was;

⁸ and Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."